Bio of TDR

TDR is a working professional in entertainment and is obsessed with the game of hockey. More four years ago, this site emerged as a means (or an outlet) to tell some truth'isms about the game post-lockout, rather than the crud fed to us through knuckleheads like Jimmy Dolan and his lemmings universe. Today, there are a hundred Rangers sites and is thankful and grateful to all those that have come after him, but honorable thanks go to his fellow Dark-writers, Graying Mantis and J_Undisputed. And "Let's Go Rangers!"

Bio of Graying Mantis

Graying Mantis is in fact a graying legal practitioner by day (and sometimes, alas, by night). In the cobwebs of his memory, he recalls starting to follow the Blueshirts in 1970 and remembers watching pivotal playoff games against the Blackhawks on a snow-covered Hartford t.v. channel in their 1972 march to the Finals. Giacomin, Gilbert, Ratelle, and Hadfield seen skating on a small B&W TV screens always will be among his first Ranger memories. He is grateful beyond words for the opportunity to work with his colleagues here in their never ending battle to inform and entertain. Most of all, he appreciates the chance to engage with fellow hockey fans.

Bio of J_Undisputed

"J_Undisputed is an Information Tech Professional; a student, and on and off in his dreams, Mike Richter. He caught his first glimpse of Rangers Hockey when an overtime preempted his favorite pro wrestling broadcast on WWOR-9 one late saturday night when he was 5 and he's been hooked ever since. He's been watching the Rangers for 30 years despite family attempts to make him an Islander Fan (Rest easy...they're out of the will). What started as a minor annoyance has become a life long passion (and at times, a frustration...But he wouldn't trade it for anything). Lets Go Rangers!"

Bio of General Ganz

General Ganz is a cynical yet well-informed student of the human spirit. He's a professional of sorts, with a post-graduate education, some experience working in real companies, and some limited athletic ability. The total small package. He got picked on a fair bit as a kid, and he experienced his first human-non-relation kiss in his teens. He also grew up on the other side of the tracks, thereby helping to cultivate a healthy contempt for dreamers and optimists whose rosy upbringing gave them something to smile about, even when "life produced lemons." Like it or not, his only mission is to point out the potholes you're lucky enough to miss on your drive to work. To find the blemish on your daughter's carefully-stitched (and not-yet-paid-for) wedding dress. To take that little smidgen of hope that your favorite hockey teams fill you with, and pour orange paint on it. Oh, and he is a Blueshirts fan, and takes most of his fashion direction from Ron Duguay (whose name he dropped as a way to close the deal on that first kiss).

Sunday, August 3, 2008

So The Dark Ranger is vacationing in Habs country throughout the week, staying in a lovely resort on the lake at Mont Tremblant. Subtly, I wear dark vintage clothing with New York Rangers logos carefully printed designs to remind these loyal French Canadiens that it is possible to worship another team. I regret to admit that I am somewhat jealous at the vast Quebec province of hockey followers with this team; now, the Blueshirts have always had/have a strong, loyal and important following - but we are smoked by these hockey fans in how far they are willing to go for their beloved hockey Habs. The fans wears the logos, the fans are everywhere and the province is practically governed by the NHL game of hockey.

Even the nickname "Habs" for the Montreal Canadiens was created to differentiate themselves from the other "secondary" Canadian hockey teams. Why couldn't they simply be called The Canadiens? Well, Habs is derived from "The Habitats du Quebec", that's why! We are French. Not Canadien! Retarded and cliche'.

A side story while here......I spoke with this one French-Canadian Hab lover, kids face painted with the logo, himself wearing the jersey in 75 degree weather on a random day, actually found it insulting that I would wear a blue shirt with a NYR in the middle of Habs country. True story. Why couldn't we all just get along and enjoy that we're both hockey fans and we like to dress our kids up in hockey gear?

Like ex-Ranger Sean Avery, The Dark Ranger is not a fan of the French-Canadien hockey fans as they choose to fit the negative French stereotype. Boo, boo Dark-fella you may say!!?

I personally feel that Habs fans have their heads so far up their French-Canadian arses; in love with their own team. They haven't seen a Cup since 1992 and they carry their French ancestry elitism throughout the entire league. If only non-Hab fans actually listened to them it might mean something to the outsiders. These Montreal hockey lovers hold dear to their hockey superiority like they hold onto their culture and everything else. When their team loses playoff games, these Habs fans destroy their own arena. When they play a non-Canadian team, their commentators remark on how Americans don't care about hockey followed by the redundant speech of how they've won more Cups than anyone else in the history of the NHL. Culture snobs and this level of hockey nationalism (or provincialism in Canada for that matter) creates prejudice in the NHL and life in general. These English-Hooligan-Mirroring Habs destroy their own cars & break into local businesses when they lose. The City of Montreal had to double security throughout the entire season last year in order to deter the fans from creating havoc. One might say this is a minor group of fans that is not representative of the fan base as a whole, and I accept that -- but it is shameful that the authorities, the majority of fans allows this mentality. 'Idiot behavior.' 'Idiot Habs.'

Now come on....did the Quebecios really think St. Hubert could ever truly go head-to-head with Swiss Chalet? HA! Ignorance. (I am obviously spending too much time in Canada these days, especially coming from an American hockey blogger making Province jokes).

I admit to my hockey racism.. I don't like Habs. Note I also don't like Leafs, Flyers and Devils too. I am and will always be a New York Ranger fan, and will celebrate and be critical of my team winning or not -- and I will NOT always love them, kind of like family. So if you are the Montreal Canadiens playing at home and you lose a game, head to the hills up in Mont Tremblant because a little resort on a lake might put things into perspective.

J - Ranger Tees with fight straps were coming, but he was traded to Dallas.

anonymous - you may be right. there is 'hope' in the air (or as Sather would say "hope in the heir")

jibble - lol re: Avs...not sure what kind of team you guys are assembling over there...been reading your sarcastic posts on the re-building process - rather than Renney coaching the Avs, perhaps Glen Sather could do you some good!!? Montreal is beautiful. It's the people that suck. ;)

Darn right, growing up near Toronto surrounded by Habs (it's Les Habitants, with the 'n' by the way, this simple act by mself in correcting you I hope means that they will not come and burn me out of my house at 3:00 a.m., you however may want to get a surveillance system!)and Leafs fans was bad, but fun in the way that belonging to a club with almost no other members is, aah, the exclusivity. Leafs fans were idiots, but Habs fans at least could realistically point out their club's superiority.

Who cares, I always hated Habs fans and continue to indulge in this hatred to this day because it makes me feel good. Kind of like the way I hate the Yankees. To hear some sportcasters intone so gravely and reverently about the Yankees, I feel like telling them where to put it. They're like bandwagoneers for life, kind of like Habs fans. And I love to see them both lose.

I hate the Habs!I know I am critical of the Rangers lack of scoring wingers and their hesitation in bringing back Shanny but the Habs suck. They weren't even picked by their own newspapers to make the playoffs. Better hope that Tanguay doesn't get stage fright and the PP stays great. Streit leaving puts big pressure on Markov and Hamirlik. I am betting that the Habs will battle for the 6-8 playoffs spot.

Hi Bluenationleafs, sorry for the remark about Leafs fans being idiots. LOL, I'm pretty sure I was called that many time as a Rangers fan growing up. It's fun 'hating' other teams, even though it is basically the same experience.

There's an episode of FANS’ MOST WANTED: NY Rangers on MSG tonight at 8. They let fans vote on who they think are the Rangers all-time starting 6 and its got videos of this dream team's best plays, fights, and a bunch of other stuff. Should be pretty good. All info here: http://www.msg.com/fmwrangers/

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